Dyslexia is a learning problem that makes it hard to read, write, and spell. It occurs because the brain jumbles or mixes up letters and words. Children with dyslexia often have a poor memory of spoken and written words.
Having dyslexia does not mean that your or your child’s ability to learn is below average. In fact, many people with dyslexia are very bright. But not being able to read well can make many areas of learning a problem.
Dyslexia is also called specific reading disability, reading disorder, and reading disability.
What causes dyslexia? Experts don't know for sure what causes dyslexia. But it often runs in families. So it may be passed from parents to children (genetic disorder). Some studies have found problems with how the brain links letters and words with the sounds they make.
Dyslexia is not caused by poor vision, and people with dyslexia do not see letters and words backward.
What are the symptoms? Signs of dyslexia in children who are too young for school include:
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Talking later than expected.
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Being slow to learn new words.
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Problems rhyming.
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Problems following directions that have many steps. After a child begins school, the signs of dyslexia include:
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Problems reading single words, such as a word on a flash card.
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Problems linking letters with sounds.
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Confusing small words, such as "at" and "to."
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Reversing the shapes of written letters such as "d" for "b." For example, the child may write "dat" instead of "bat."
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Writing words backward, such as "tip" for "pit." If your child has one of these signs, it does not mean that he or she has dyslexia. Many children reverse letters before age 7. But if your child has several signs and reading problems, or if you have a family history of dyslexia, you may want to have your child checked for the problem.
How is dyslexia diagnosed? To find out if your child has dyslexia, your doctor will ask about your child's past health. The doctor will also ask you what signs of dyslexia you and your child’s teachers have seen. He or she will ask your child questions too. Your doctor may order reading and skill tests. Tests may include those that look at your child's personality and how he or she learns, solves problems, and uses words. Your child may also have an IQ test.
These tests will help your doctor find out if your child has dyslexia or another learning problem.
How is it treated?
Treatment uses a number of teaching methods to help your child read better. These methods include:
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Teaching how letters are linked to sounds to make words.
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Having the child read aloud with a teacher’s help.
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Teaching the child to listen to and repeat instructions.
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United States law requires schools to set up a learning plan to meet the needs of a child with dyslexia. This plan is called an Individualized Education Program (IEP). You, your child's doctors, and teachers will have a say in designing the plan. The plan is updated each year based on how well your child is doing and your child's needs. Medicines and counseling usually are not a part of treatment for dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a lifelong problem, but early treatment during childhood can help. Support from family, teachers, and friends is also important.
Helping children with Dyslexia
Dyslexia - Helping Your Child Parents can make a big difference in improving the reading skills of a child diagnosed with dyslexia. Because you are most aware of your child's strengths and weaknesses, you can focus on learning strategies that will work best for him or her. With young children, playing alphabet games and reading rhyming books, for example, while offering support and encouragement, might greatly improve reading skills. Staying involved with your child's education throughout the school years will be a key part of your child's success. You can be a positive force in your child's education. Following is a list of ways parents can help their young children with dyslexia develop reading skills and feel good about themselves.
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Read to your child. Starting when your child is 6 months old, find time to read to your child every day. Point to the words as you read. Draw attention to words that you run across in daily life, such as traffic signs, billboards, notices, and labels.
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Be a good reading role model. Show your child how important reading is to daily life. Make books, magazines, and other reading materials available for your child to explore and enjoy independently.
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Focus on phonemes. Play rhyming games, sing songs that emphasize rhyme and alliteration, play word games, sound out letters, and point out similarities in words.
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Work on spelling. Point out new words, play spelling games, and encourage your child to write.
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Help with time and planning. Hang up simple charts, clocks, and calendars, so your child can visualize time and plan for the future.
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Share in the joy of reading. Find books that your child can read but that you will also enjoy. Sit together, take turns reading, and encourage discussion. Revisiting words that cause trouble for your child and rereading stories are powerful tools to reinforce learning.
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Read, read, read. Read to and with your child. This can help make a positive difference in learning basic reading skills. Children with dyslexia may need emotional support with the many challenges they face. Following is a list of ways parents can offer encouragement.
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Learn about dyslexia. Information about dyslexia can help you better understand and assist your child.
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Teach through your child's areas of strength. For example, if your child understands more when listening, let him or her learn new information by listening to a book on tape or watching a video. If possible, follow up with the same story in written form.
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Respect and challenge your child's natural intelligence. Most children with dyslexia have average or above-average intelligence that can be challenged by parents who encourage their intellectual growth. Be honest with your child about his or her disability. Explain it in understandable and age-appropriate examples and terms while offering unconditional love and support.
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Teach your child to persevere. You can model, through good-humored acceptance of your own mistakes, that mistakes can help you find solutions.
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Recognize your child's limitations. There may be some things your child will always struggle with. Help your child understand that this does not mean he or she is a failure.
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Don't become a homework tyrant. Expecting perfection and squabbling with your child over homework will create an unhealthy relationship and emphasize your child's failures.
Resource Teacher Tips…
Helpful Websites:
The Alphabet Code & How It Works
**http://www.donpotter.net/PDF/Alphabet%20Code%20-%20Loring%20Sequence.pdf**
National LD
http://www.ncld.org/Reading Strategies
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/teacher_resources/literacy_pages/comprehension_strategies.htm#connections
What Good Readers Do
http://www.topsfieldschools.org/what_do_good_readers_do.htm
Free Reading
http://freereading.net/index.php?title=Main_Page
Study Skills
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/knowitall/studyskills/reading5.htm
Mandy Gregory
http://mandygregory.com/
Special Education
http://specialed.about.com/
Dyslexia (from www.webmd.com)
ADHD
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/how-to-help-your-child-with-adhd-be-successful-in-school
Dyslexia…an Overview
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning problem that makes it hard to read, write, and spell. It occurs because the brain jumbles or mixes up letters and words. Children with dyslexia often have a poor memory of spoken and written words.Having dyslexia does not mean that your or your child’s ability to learn is below average. In fact, many people with dyslexia are very bright. But not being able to read well can make many areas of learning a problem.
Dyslexia is also called specific reading disability, reading disorder, and reading disability.
What causes dyslexia?
Experts don't know for sure what causes dyslexia. But it often runs in families. So it may be passed from parents to children (genetic disorder). Some studies have found problems with how the brain links letters and words with the sounds they make.
Dyslexia is not caused by poor vision, and people with dyslexia do not see letters and words backward.
What are the symptoms?
Signs of dyslexia in children who are too young for school include:
After a child begins school, the signs of dyslexia include:
If your child has one of these signs, it does not mean that he or she has dyslexia. Many children reverse letters before age 7. But if your child has several signs and reading problems, or if you have a family history of dyslexia, you may want to have your child checked for the problem.
How is dyslexia diagnosed?
To find out if your child has dyslexia, your doctor will ask about your child's past health. The doctor will also ask you what signs of dyslexia you and your child’s teachers have seen. He or she will ask your child questions too. Your doctor may order reading and skill tests. Tests may include those that look at your child's personality and how he or she learns, solves problems, and uses words. Your child may also have an IQ test.
These tests will help your doctor find out if your child has dyslexia or another learning problem.
How is it treated?
Treatment uses a number of teaching methods to help your child read better. These methods include:Medicines and counseling usually are not a part of treatment for dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a lifelong problem, but early treatment during childhood can help. Support from family, teachers, and friends is also important.
Helping children with Dyslexia
Dyslexia - Helping Your Child
Parents can make a big difference in improving the reading skills of a child diagnosed with dyslexia. Because you are most aware of your child's strengths and weaknesses, you can focus on learning strategies that will work best for him or her. With young children, playing alphabet games and reading rhyming books, for example, while offering support and encouragement, might greatly improve reading skills. Staying involved with your child's education throughout the school years will be a key part of your child's success. You can be a positive force in your child's education. Following is a list of ways parents can help their young children with dyslexia develop reading skills and feel good about themselves.
Children with dyslexia may need emotional support with the many challenges they face. Following is a list of ways parents can offer encouragement.